Syria seeks international help to fight Islamic State

Tuesday, August 26, 2014 - 01:14

New video uploaded to a social website shows what purports to be rebel groups continuing their attack on Syrian government forces. The contents cannot be independently verified by Reuters but for the Syrian Government, it's the force known as Islamic State that's causing most concern. Damascus is even asking for international help to fight the group. Gavino Garay reports.

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Rebel groups, backed by the West, continue to fire rockets aimed at taking down Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government.
But for Damascus, the greater threat lies with the militants of Islamic State, who are attacking both the rebel groups and Assad's forces.
Islamic State recently declared a "caliphate" in parts of Iraq and Syria, and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem says his government would welcome international help in stamping them out.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, WALID AL-MOUALEM, SAYING:
"We are ready to cooperate and coordinate with regional countries and the international community in fighting terrorism following the resolutions of the Security Council. We welcome everybody."
Everybody, including Washington.
While Syria and Washington may not see eye-to-eye on other rebel factions fighting against the Assad government, they are now united in their fight against Islamic State, particularly since the beheading of American journalist James Foley.
(file)
After three years of bitter confrontation, it may now suit both countries to join forces against a common enemy.

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